Government funds Indigenous forest-industry growth

FPInnovations’ president and CEO Stéphane Renou, welcomed Western Economic Diversification Canada’s commitment to continue investing in Indigenous communities by allocating $1.65-million to FPInnovations’ B.C. Indigenous Forest Sector Technical Support Program. The federal government also allocated $2.38-million for a Clean Technology project that generates renewable natural gas (RNG) from forest residues.

FPInnovations’ B.C. Indigenous Forest Sector Technical Support Program is aimed at encouraging the economic and social independence, as well as the environmental, cultural, and spiritual sustainability of Indigenous communities in B.C. FPInnovations has provided assistance to Indigenous communities through opportunities in the B.C. forest sector every year since the program’s launch in 2007 by creating, enhancing, or maintaining forest-based businesses, and creating or maintaining more than 600 direct and indirect employment opportunities.

In collaboration with our partners, FPInnovations is also proud to contribute toward solving environmental challenges through the development of new clean technologies. FPInnovations has been supporting RNG development over the last few years; this product builds on the liquefied natural gas (LNG) work currently underway in BC.

“FPInnovations is proud to support the vitality of Indigenous communities in B.C. through our Indigenous Forest Sector Technical Support Program co-funded by Western Economic Diversification Canada and the province of B.C. The Program was built out of friendship, trust, respect, and the desire to improve the standard of living of Indigenous communities,” said Stéphane Renou, Ppresident and CEO, FPInnovations.

“B.C.’s forests have tremendous potential as a source of clean, renewable materials, and energy as well as jobs, and UBC is supporting the B.C. Pulp and Paper Bio-Alliance to achieve that vision. This new investment will accelerate the research and testing that is bringing that vision to life – and ultimately help achieve carbon reduction targets for B.C. and Canada,” said Professor Santa J. Ono, UBC president, and vice-chancellor.